Trains overflow as festive rush peaks

Passenger traffic on Indian railway lines has reached unprecedented levels as millions prepare for the festive season, with thousands travelling to their hometowns for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Overcrowded trains, packed coaches and long queues have made boarding increasingly difficult, with scenes of passengers squeezing through doors and windows to find a place.

From India's bustling cities of Delhi and Mumbai to states like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, the festive rush has put significant strain on railway infrastructure. Migrant workers and families traveling to eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh are among those facing difficulties as they attempt to reach home for the celebrations.

Despite the addition of special trains and crowd-control measures, major railway stations are experiencing severe congestion. Passengers have been waiting for hours to board trains, while others struggle to find standing space inside coaches. The situation is expected to worsen as another major passenger rush is anticipated ahead of Chhath Puja.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that the preparations for the festive travel season began six months in advance. The Railways has added 6,000 special trains and introduced several crowd-control measures compared to the previous year. Approximately 18,000 special trains are now operating during the festive season, up from 12,000 last year.

Dedicated holding areas have been created at around 20 railway stations to help reduce congestion around departure points. Ticket counters have been moved to these holding areas, and additional scanning facilities have been introduced to speed up passenger movement.

In Delhi, Anand Vihar railway station has introduced a dedicated passenger holding facility featuring seating arrangements and ticket counters, providing a designated space for commuters instead of large crowds gathering directly on platforms. In Mumbai, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) has seen a significant increase in passengers traveling towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and other eastern destinations.

Central Railway has increased the number of festival special services, but the heavy demand continues to challenge available train capacity. In Tamil Nadu, migrant workers traveling from Tiruppur to Bihar and Jharkhand have encountered heavy overcrowding on trains, with some struggling to board through doors and windows.